B in Bitwig is for Bach

In this video, I built a chord progression generator inside Bitwig Studio's Note Grid using voice stacking, pitch quantizers, and modulation to create diatonic chords with interesting variations. It's a creative way to generate harmonic ideas easily while staying in key.

Key Concepts and Setup:

• Instrument: I used a Piano VST (Pianoteq) as the sound source.

• Note Grid Setup:

  • Note In → Note Out as the basic signal flow.

  • Transpose Module: Allows shifting pitches for chord construction.

  • Pitch Quantizer: Locked the notes to the D# minor scale (with no B note).

Chord Creation Using Voice Stacking:

• Voice Stacking (3 voices) was enabled to generate multiple notes per key press.

• Stack Spread Modulator:

  • Modulated the transpose value by 3 semitones between each stacked voice.

  • This created a basic triad with three semitones between each note.

Problem: Some notes fell out of the D# minor scale.
Solution: The Pitch Quantizer corrected them to stay within the chosen scale.

Expanding the Chord Structure:

• Increasing the Voices: Added up to 7 stacked voices for wider chords.

• Interval Control: Changed the spread between notes using a macro knob.

  • 3 semitones (minor)

  • 5 semitones (fourths)

  • 7 semitones (fifths)

• Range Limitation (Octave Wrapping):

  • Used a phase wrapper to keep the notes within a 2-octave range.

  • Adjusted the range from C3 to C5 for better control.

Adding Bass Control:

• Separate Bass Note Output:

  • Split the lowest note into a separate channel using a Voice Stack Modulator.

  • Used a Pitch Octaver to shift it down by one octave for a proper bass sound.

Modulating Chord Shapes:

• Introduced Pitch 12 Modulator for more control:

  • Adjusted note spread depending on the pitch played.

  • Allowed disabling some voices selectively for simpler chords.

Final Touches:

• Static Bass Note:

  • Added an independent bass note playing the root of the scale.

• Recording MIDI Output:

  • Sent the generated chords to a note clip for further editing.

Key Takeaways:

• Easy Chord Creation: One-note playing generates full diatonic chords.

• Fully Modifiable: Adjust intervals, note density, and voicing easily.

• Diatonic & Controlled: The Pitch Quantizer keeps all notes in key.

• Bass & Chord Separation: Control bass notes and chord layers independently.

Conclusion:

This chord progression tool is fun for creating harmonically rich progressions quickly. I've made the preset available for download so you can experiment with it yourself. Let me know if you create something cool!

Downloads

• Diatonic Spreader Preset: https://bit.ly/3PsA0wj